Foxconn: We Hired Underage Interns

Company sends 14- to 16-year-olds back to school

(Newser)
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A Foxconn internal investigation found the company employed underage interns for three weeks, the firm tells Bloomberg. An advocacy group yesterday cited a "small number" of summer interns between the ages of 14 and 16. "Any Foxconn employee found, through our investigation, to be responsible for these violations will have their employment immediately terminated," the firm said. "We recognize that full responsibility for these violations rests with our company and we have apologized to each of the students for our role in this action."

The advocacy group China Labor Watch put the majority of the blame on the schools that sent the students to the company, though it said Foxconn should have confirmed the kids' ages. The firm sent the youths back to their schools. The news marks the latest labor controversy at Foxconn, which last month saw rioting that led to arrests.

In this Wednesday, May 26, 2010, file photo, staff members work on the production line at the Foxconn complex in Shenzhen, China.
(AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

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